46

attended conversazioni at League Rooms and Ramayana Branch respectively. Thursday, the 23d of February, he addressed a special meeting of the Chicago Branch and made proposals for some changes in its methods of work. Friday, the 24th, he lectured at League Rooms on "Dreams"; on Saturday he addressed the Chicago Branch on the "Sixth Sense". Next day, Sunday, 26th, he lectured in the afternoon at Merrick's Hall on the "Unity of Religions", and in the evening at League Rooms on After-death States". Monday he spoke at a meeting on the north side on "Theosophy". Wednesday, March 1st, he spoke on "Universal Brotherhood" to the Chicago Branch. Thursday, March 2d, he addressed a meeting in Englewood on "Theosophy". Friday he lectured on the Haunts of the Soul" at League Rooms". The Sunday following, March 5th, he gave a public lecture in Athenæum Hall on "Salient Points of Theosophy", 320 persons being present. Wednesday, Mar. 8th, he spoke before the Chicago Branch on "Reincarnation". Thursday he organized a Swedish Branch of T. S. on the north-west side, to be called the “Wachtmeister Branch". Friday, March 10th, he attended a meeting in League Rooms and answered questions on Theosophy by the public. Saturday at a special meeting of members only of the Chicago Branch he spoke on "Memories of H. P. B.; and criticisms of the Chicago Branch." Sunday, March 12, he lectured in the afternoon at All Souls' Church on Reason and Intuition", and in the evening on Elementals" at League Rooms. March 14th, Tuesday, he attended a meeting at Englewood for the formation of a Branch there, and addressed it on "The Theosophical Society". Wednesday, March 15th, he addressed Chicago Branch on "Karma". The above does not include numerous parlor meetings and personal visits. All the meetings have been well attended, and many were crowded to excess.

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT reports the Pranava T. S. meeting on March 5th, when Mr. Seth Wheaton, President, discoursed on "Theosophy and its Relations to Religion", and Mr. W. C. Johnson read a paper entitled "A Theosophical Argument". The missionary visits to St. Louis of Miss Stabler and Claude F. Wright are showing effect in the firmer grasp Theosophy now has upon F. T. S. there, and in the earnest attempts of Mr. Wheaton and other workers to bring its teachings to public knowledge. The above papers, both of which are said to have been excellent, are one of these attempts, and are sure to have results. St. Louis has never been a fruitful Theosophic field, yet unquestionably might make a far different record if every F. T. S. there would throw away his lethargy or his time-serving or his fancied respectability", and give a manly and a helping hand to the few Brethren who are trying to exemplify Theosophy rather than secrete it. The latter have the respect of the public, the sympathy of the Society, and the gratitude of— Higher Powers.

PACIFIC COAST.

BRO. E. B. RAMBO, while upon a business trip through the northern part of the Coast, has visited the Branches at Tacoma, Seattle, Victoria, B. C., Portland, and Olympia, lecturing to them upon "The Heart Doctrine" and "Objections to Reincarnation".

BRANCH MEETINGS in San Francisco are much larger than ever before, the capacity of the rooms having been taxed to its utmost several times of late. An offer from an experienced and able Sanscrit scholar to lecture once a week

Every evening
This is a very

was gratefully accepted, and Monday evening is devoted thereto, the instruction being careful. Attendance is good and interest very deep. of the week is occupied by some class for Theosophical study. significant indication of a steadily enlarging devotion to such topics, and must ensure progress.

UPASANA T. S., San Diego, has been enriched with provision from President Sidney Thomas of a neatly fitted Hall for meetings, wherein the first address was made by Mrs. Annie Besant. There is a perceptible increase in the Branch of the spirit of unity and zeal, the new members especially being earnest students. The recently-elected Secretary is Mrs. Julia Y. Bessac, 4th and

Palm streets. THE PACIFIC COAST LECTURER addressed a good audience at Petaluma, California, on February 9th, and another at Visalia on the 20th in Native Sons' Hall. Much interest was evinced and the meeting was long. On the 23d and 25th, Dr. Griffiths lectured at Fresno to large audiences. A Branch there is probable. On March 3d, the lecture was at Merced, and it received unusually extended press notices.

FOREIGN.

BRAHMINS OBJECT to Buddhism. From trustworthy sources we hear that many Brahmins in India are raising objections to the T. S. on the ground that it is a Buddhist Society. This doubtless arises from the fact that Col. Olcott is a Buddhist, and from the prominence given to the name in Mr. Sinnett's Esoteric Buddhism. If we could only get the ear of these objectors we could show them that the T. S. is too catholic and broad to be either Buddhistic or Brahmanical. As Mr. Sinnett is more Vedantin than Brahman, his book proves naught in the line of the objection. It is to be hoped that Iudian Fellows of the T. S. will dissipate the objection raised.

MRS. BESANT arrived in Southampton on the 4th of March in the "New York". This was the first trip of that vessel under the American flag, and it is a good omen that it bore Mrs. Besant home. Very rough weather was met on the voyage, but Mrs. Besant's friends will be glad to know that she stood the trip well and was able to at once go up to London where she arrived in the early hours of the morning. The house was dark and no one up to meet her, as she was not expected until next day. Reporters came as usual, and on Monday the Gazette, the Chronicle, the Morning, and other papers had long reports. They remarked that Mrs. Besant had grown greyer during her absence, and the first picture was a copy of one taken in San Francisco. On the next day Mrs. Besant began her work in England of lecturing. Thus it is the theosophists cannot wait for amusement when there is work to do.

THE OTHER theosophical arrival is that of Bertram Keightley from India almost from the depths of the sea. He was wrecked on the way from Madras to Colombo, the steamer sinking within a few hundred yards of shore. The passengers passed the night in crowded boats, unable to cross the surf till daylight, and then were obliged to walk many miles through sand, marsh, mud, and jungle to the nearest village, the sun blistering them and hardly any food or water being attainable. Mr. Keightley was barefoot. A few articles were washed ashore, but almost all of his luggage was totally lost, money, letters, personal souvenirs,-worst of all, the notes collected during two years for a

work on Indian literature, and the cherished letters from H. P. B. Mr. Keightley was well upon arriving in England, but later gave evidence of the climatic effects of India, and will need no small treatment before entire restoration to health. To be robbed and then shipwrecked within a few months is certainly Karma in severe form, and Bro. K. would seem now entitled to a long stretch of uninterrupted bliss. Perhaps this may include his attendance at the American Convention in April!

THE SIDNEY T. S. reports activity. A Lending Library is being formed, and meetings are held Wednesday and Sunday evenings. There is a Secret Doctrine class of seven with E. W. Minchen as Conductor. Literature is also being spread. There is encouragement in this, as the S. T. S. passed through a dark period recently. Personalities, contrary to our first object, did damage. A certain stranger who preaches Theosophy and Christianity mixed is for a time obstructing the work of all. But experience shows that if Theosophy is attended to and promulgated it will win at last. Our Australian brothers seem to think that Annie Besant was needed in U. S. to wake America to Theosophy. Not so. It has long been awake, and because of that—and not to bring it about-did she come here. Let them not judge America by English newspapers behind time and insular in thought.

COLONEL OLCOTT has issued an Executive Order declaring that the Theosophische Vereingnung, started by Dr. Hübbe-Schleiden in Germany, is not a Branch of the T. S. The name of this new body really means Theosophical Union. In February the Colonel was on tour, and writes from Bhagalpur, India. We understand that Bro. S. V. Edge is with him.

CEYLON LETTER.

BRO. B. KEIGHTLEY, who was wrecked on his way to catch the English steamer, stopped here for a few days after the disaster while waiting for the French boat, and weak and exhausted as he was held T. S. meetings, lectured once, and visited the Sangamitta Girls' School. During the latter part of last month we had the honor of a flying visit from our good sister Mrs. CooperOakley of London, who was on her way to Australia. She was travelling by that fine ocean palace, the S. S. Ophir of the Orient Line. The steamer hove in sight on the morning of the 23d ult., and as soon as it anchored in the Colombo Harbor Mr. de Abrew boarded the steamer and exchanged greetings with Mrs. Cooper-Oakley. The whole party landed soon afterwards and drove down directly to the Sangamitta Girls' School, where Mrs. Higgins received them as her guests. The visitors made a tour of the institution with Mrs. Higgins, visiting each class, hearing the girls read, and speaking to them. The girls then beautifully sang for the visitors some English hymns and songs and Sinhalese lyrics, Mrs. Higgins accompanying them on the piano. The visitors were delighted with what they saw and heard at the school, and they all made encouraging observations in the Visitors' Book. Mrs. Cooper-Oakley resumed her voyage that very night: Mrs. Higgins and a party of friends went to see our sister off to Australia. Mrs. Cooper-Oakley was not a stranger to us, for nine years ago she was here with our H. P. B., when she was our lamented teacher's constant companion. Next Sunday there will be celebrated the annual Convention of the Society in Ceylon, when several important measures concerning the T. S. and the educational movement will be discussed.

SINHALA PUTRA.

THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY'S PROPERTY.

The president of the T. S. has issued notice to the following effect under date of December 29, 1892:

(a) that he has executed in due form of law a deed transferring the title of the real estate of the T. S. to a Board of Trustees consisting of himself and the General Secretaries of the various Sections with some other individual members, and that said deed was recorded in Chingleput, Madras, on the 21st of December.

(b) that he will, as soon as circumstances permit, transfer to the same Board all the funds of the T. S.

(c) that henceforth all the property of the T. S. as a whole will be vested in the Board.

(d) that it is necessary for all who have made wills in favor of the T. S., as distinguished from any Section of it, to alter such wills and make a codicil or new will in the following form: I give and bequeath to the Trustees for the time being of the Theosophical Society appointed or actiug under a deed of trust dated the 14th day of December, 1892, and duly enrolled (the sum of

or such and such property) out of such part of my estate not hereby specifically disposed of as I may by law bequeath to charitable purposes, etc., etc.". (e) lastly he draws attention to the fact that bequests made to the American or European Sections are not to the T. S. as a whole but to those Sections. This was, we thought, well known, but it is right to state it again.

At the same time it should also be remembered that bequests made to the T. S. as a whole do not put any money into the treasury in any way directly or indirectly of any of the Sections, unless we except the Indian Section which has its offices in the Adyar Headquarters. WILLIAM Q. Judge,

BRANCH PAPER No. 32, The Theosophical Idea of Immortality, read befere the St. Paul T. S., was issued to the Secretaries on March 25th.

A GRIEVOUS MISPRINT in Branch Paper No. 8, page 4, line 4, made selflessness to read selfishness, thus reversing the sense. Secretaries will please make written correction.

The disappearance of virtue and philosophy is only for a time: the souls possessing these will return again, bringing both with them.-Book of Items.

OM.

AUM

Let none be forgetful of his own duty for the sake of another's.-Dhammapada, v. 166.

Better to fling away life than transgress our convictions of duty. Ta-chwang-yon-kinglun, 44.

Better for me to die battling with the tempter, than that I should live defeated.-Padhana-sutta, v. 16.

It is better to die in righteousness than to live in unrighteousness.-Loweda Sangrahaya.

VOL. VIII.

THE PATH.

MAY, 1893.

No. 2.

The Theosophical Society, as such, is not responsible for any opinion or declaration in this Magazine, by whomsoever expressed, unless contained in an Official Document. Where any article or statement has the author's name attached, he alone is responsible, and for those which are unsigned the Editor will be accountable.

A VIEW OF GRECIAN MYTHOLOGY.*

IN of Mythologyor or

It

N the study of Grecian Mythology or the religion of the ancient Greeks and Romans, we have no living professors or exponents of this belief, as is the case with most of the religions of the world. Yet as a system of religion and thought, and that one existing at the birth of the Christian religion and immediately preceding its advent, it is most important as a system. is not only without living exponents, but it has no great bibles, vedas, shastras, or puranas as other religions have, and we must judge it by the few poems of the ancient Greeks, those of Hesiod, Homer, and the Orphic poems, and as we may find the powers. and attributes of the various Gods symbolized in the statuary and gems of ancient times preserved or brought to light in these latter years, dumb yet speaking witnesses. It is an error to call the religion of our forefathers a mythology and attach to this word the meaning we usually attach to the word Myth or Fable, -that of something mythical, that is, untrue, imaginary, having little or no basis in fact, of the fancy. Quite the reverse is the truth; that there is no myth but what there is behind it and for it a true basis in fact. Myth is not of the imagination, no more.

*Read before the San Francisco T. S., by E. B. Rambo.